Adil Najam
At the new Prime Minister’s oath-taking recently, the body language of Gen. Pervez Musharraf as well as Yousuf Raza Gillani made it obvious that neither was comfortable being with the other. Each has deep reasons to distrust the motives of the other. One doubts, therefore, if they took any time t reminiscence about their college days. Both, after all, went to college at Lahore’s famed Forman Christian (F.C.) College; although at different times.
Had they done so, they would have found that they are a part of a fast growing fraternity of FC Colege (and, now, University) who are now making it to the top offices in Pakistan politics.
Former President Sardar Farooq Leghari was the first one in this new crop of powerful Formanites, but recently there has been an absolute flurry. Gen. Pervez Musharraf as President and Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani as Prime Minister are, of course, Formanites too. But so have been Pakistan Prime Ministers Chaudhry Shujaat and Mohamedmian Soomro, Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi.
None of them seem to flaunt their college colors too hard – except Gen. Musharraf in his memories. Those mentions included, none of them seem to share with the public any lasting memories of their educational exploits at FC College and their is little indication that any of them had made deep marks for scholarship there. That notwithstanding, there is clearly a rise in the number of Formanites in power.
It used to be that Government College (and Aitchison College) were the power schools in Lahore. FC College would give them a run for their money in cricket, but not always in power corridors. That, it seems, has changed. Beware Ravians!
Correction: An earlier version of this post had listed Zafarullah Khan Jamali as an FC College Alumni. We checked after it was pointed out by a reader and, in fact, he was not (he went to Government College it seems). Proof, yet again, that not everything on the internet, especially on Wikipedia, ought to be believed. Our apologies.
Adil sb i am still waiting for an Article from you about rights of overseas Pakistanis to vote
Here is another theory:
I had studied in Lahore upto metric. Rich kids and nawabs do to Aitchison. From the government sector, there was never any doubt which college was best – Government College. The ones who could not make to Aitchison or Government went to FC. So the third choice.
Unfortunately, in a country suffering from severe brain drain already only the third class (Chaudaries, Soomeroo, dare I say the general himself and horror of horror our new PM) have been left incharge of our beloved country. God help Pakistan and poor Pakistanis
@ Foreign missionary influenced and colonial
institutions are there to creat a “rift ” between
two National quite different and opposite identities,
indeed through “formation ” of those “lethal” blood
clots, fatal for our Nation’s progress (not progys).
How we distrust these institutions, just watch their
activities and involvements ” within our Nation”, you
will indeed understand why I use the term ” zurriat”.
Zafarullah Khan Jamali is from GC unless you are absolutely sure. I have never heard FC college next to Zafarullah Khan Jamali ever.
Very interesting connections. Had not thought of this at all, or seen it in the newspapers or TV here.